Trail of Tears State Park beach reopens
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - The swimming beach at Trail of Tears State Park reopened Wednesday after water samples taken Monday showed bacteria levels were below the department's acceptable levels for state park beaches.
The water at all designated beaches in the state park system is sampled weekly during the recreational season by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to determine if it's suitable for swimming.
The DNR says water quality can be determined unsuitable based on either the single sample taken earlier in the week or by the geometric mean, which is the mathematical value that takes into consideration results from the current week plus results taken during previous weeks.
The sample test results show a snap shot of the water quality taken at the beaches at a specific time; however, a single sample does not give an overall sense of the water quality in the lake where the beach is located.
According to the department, water s
